Catching Fire: The New Story

Chapter 66

Katniss's POV

I sit up, gasping. Trying to grab all the air to my lungs. In my nightmare, I was drowning myself trying to save Peeta from drowning. I couldn't breath, I knew I had to save Peeta no matter what. He is all that matters to me at this point. My lungs can't grab anything and I start coughing. My throat hurts the minute I start to breath just a bit, my mouth coughing again. I jump at the jiggle of the doorknob. It's Peeta. I am too weak to get up, I feel heavy, like I have been dunked in water. As if I was drowning before I woke. Sweat ran all over me.

The door starts pounding in, a headache forming. I try to get up, but land on my hands coughing. I feel bile start to rise but I swallow it down, not wanting the taste in my mouth, or the thought in my head, at this moment. I try to scream, nothing but wheeze comes from my mouth along with me gasping for air.

After minutes of the door being pounded on and more coughing, the door is pushed open by Peeta. I am in his arms in seconds, Effie and Haymitch, still half asleep, sitting besides us on the floor. I am still coughing at this point. My lungs begin to hurt, begging for air. Muffled questions come from Peeta, but my ears are clogged as if water sits in them, covering my chance to hear his questions.

I get one question to my mind: "What's wrong?"

I coughing out. "Can't- breathe."

I continue coughing until the bile in my stomach rises full force and I feel it in my throat. My legs jump off of Peeta and take me to the bathroom in time. I feel his warm hand on my back, the other moving my hair from my shoulder. Coughing hard, I spit everything out of my system. I could hear, finally, Effie asking a million questions in through the bedroom doorframe. I wash my mouth out and go lay down, Effie in my ear complaining why she knows nothing whatsoever. I sit up and look out the fake window to the Capitol. The stars covered by its bright glow. Haymitch says the words I hate, Effie turns to me. I say nothing.

Peeta explains that Haymitch is right. He is not lying or drunk. He is right. I am indeed pregnant. Now Effie knows. What next? Who next? Effie sits at the edge of my bed and hugs me. I hear her crying. I know she forgave me for my moment on the train, but now I feel forgiven completely with the truth out. I wrap my arms around her, she truly cares about me and Peeta now. In a few days, she will be losing one, or both of us.

She releases me and wipes her fallen tears, smearing her makeup she wears to bed. She kisses my head goodnight, along with Peeta's. Actually saying goodnight to Haymitch too, without the fowl tone, then leaves. Haymitch behind her, closing the door.

"You scared me," Peeta said. My voice was too hoarse to speak right, so whatever came out, came out hurtful. To me at least.

"I'm-cough-okay." I say. I sniff and try not to cough again, bringing more pain to my chest. He pats my back and brings me a cup of water. Slowly, I drink it. The bile burned going up, so the coughs after come as slashes at my throat. My eyes burn by the tears wanting to spill, but my arrogance won't let them fall.

Peeta soon gets me into sleep. I discard the pills Effie allowed me to take. Sleeping pills have never helped me through the night. Nothing will. Peeta probably, but nothing else. Sleep will forever be difficult for Peeta and I.

My mind soon takes up nightmare after nightmare. I couldn't take anymore of it. I forced myself to wake, blocking my screams. Nothing came out when I called for Peeta. I lost my voice. Nice, Katniss. I slip out of bed and grabbed a thin blanket, wrapping the cold, revealing fabric around my shoulders. My feet lightly hit the tile floor as I walk to the living room. I knew Peeta wouldn't be sleeping, he doesn't much anyway, the noises from the hall announced someone was up this late. I doubt Effie would be up, or Haymitch. Well, Haymitch might be up, just not out of his bedroom.